About St. Anthony of Padua · Imperial, California
St. Anthony of Padua Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Imperial, California, serving the Imperial Valley under the Diocese of San Diego. Founded in 1949, the parish has grown from a small mission-style church into a vibrant, bilingual faith family offering Mass in English and Spanish. The parish is known for its strong community spirit, social outreach, and celebration of its 75th anniversary in 2024 with Cardinal Robert W. McElroy.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Father Danilo Valdepeñas
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Diego
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua offers a welcoming, bilingual community rooted in Eucharistic celebration and outreach, making it a spiritual home for English- and Spanish-speaking families in the Imperial Valley.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00pm–5:00pm
History
St. Anthony of Padua Parish was founded in 1949 to serve Catholic families in Imperial who had previously traveled to neighboring cities for Mass. Father Francis Horvath organized the community, celebrated early Masses at the Imperial County Fairgrounds, and guided construction of the original mission-style church, dedicated on February 8, 1949. A new church building was dedicated in 1994 after years of planning and pastoral leadership.
Community and Outreach
St. Anthony's is active in serving the local community, including participation in Diocese of San Diego food distribution efforts through Catholic Charities.
- Social ministry and food distribution
- Young adult ministry